Free Republic

Southern Illinois cross drew nearly 10,000 visitors in 2014 The Associated Press January 31, 2015 EFFINGHAM, Ill. — Officials say a nearly 200-foot tall cross in Southern Illinois recorded close to 10,000 visitors last year. The Effingham Daily News reports (http://bit.ly/1CURTZD ) 9,479 people visited the Cross at the Crossroads. That's about 2,000 more visitors than in 2013. The cross and Welcome Center are located along Interstate 57 near Effingham. Carol Gapsis is the director of the Welcome Center. She says the cross is more than just another landmark for travelers. Gapsis says: "It serves as a beacon of hope...

Larry Micenheimer.  Photo courtesy Facebook. Gun haters intolerant not only of gun rights, but also free speech rights.Guns Save Life director Don Huskey, who hails from Effingham, was perplexed when signs touting his “All American SHO-Show” gun shows started turning up missing in and near Effingham during the month of September.He replaced the signs, on private property where he had owner permission to post them, and they too turned up missing.“It’s frustrating,” he told GSL’s president John Boch.  “It’s really frustrating.”Well, last week Don Huskey got some good news.Police made an arrest.Of course, just like in the opening intro to...

SPRINGFIELD — Effingham County sheriff deputies have reported the early Sunday morning arrest of three men to the federal Joint Terrorism Task Force. The men, two from Russia and one from Kazakhstan, were found near Georgia Power’s Plant McIntosh on Old Augusta Road about 1 a.m. Sunday after a ranger with the Department of Natural Resources reported a suspicious vehicle, Effingham County sheriff’s spokesman David Ehsanipoor said. Deputies reported the men, who were inside a 1995 Nissan Pathfinder, had a machete, shovel, wire cutters and ski masks. One man also had black silk stockings in his front left pocket. Arrested...

WESTWOOD ONE LAUNCHES THE MONICA CROWLEY SHOW --New Program to Air Saturdays, Noon - 3 p.m. ET-- Beginning Saturday, April 1, 2006 New York, NY Monday, Mar 20, 2006 - Westwood One (NYSE: WON) is proud to announce the national launch of The Monica Crowley Show, the three-hour talk program hosted by author and news personality Monica Crowley. The show begins Saturday, April 1, 2006, and will air from noon to 3 p.m. ET. The Monica Crowley Show will debut on major market stations across the country including: WABC-AM New York, WTKK-FM Boston and WTNT-AM Washington DC. The show will...